The European Union is preparing a new sanctions package to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen announced. This comes as European leaders meet in Tirana and Russia and Ukraine hold direct peace talks in Istanbul.

The European Union is working on a new sanctions package to tighten pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen confirmed this as European leaders gathered in Tirana, Albania. The sanctions aim to target Russia’s energy and financial sectors, including the Nord Stream pipelines and Russian vessels.

The EU has already imposed multiple sanctions, but securing unanimous support from all 27 member countries has become more challenging. Diplomats say the new measures will need U.S. backing to have a real impact. The U.S. has taken a leading role in negotiations, sidelining the EU's involvement in peace talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of securing an unconditional ceasefire to pave the way for future peace discussions. However, Russia’s peace efforts remain limited, with President Putin sending a lower-level delegation to the peace talks in Istanbul, which lasted less than two hours.

European leaders, including those from France, Germany, and Poland, criticized Russia's stance and expressed their commitment to continue working with the U.S. to resolve the conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe must rely on the U.S. to end the war in Ukraine.

At the summit, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama lightened the mood with a humorous video featuring the leaders as babies, offering a brief moment of levity amid the serious discussions.

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